21st August 2022

 

Dear All,

We began the week with two days in Hove helping to look after Amḗlie and Albert while their parents were at work. We arrived with a boot full of Mary-Ann’s art work accumulated over her years of study and since resident in our loft for about 25 years. I am sure she was delighted to see it all! We spent quite a lot of time in Hove Park as the children enjoy the climbing wall and playground especially the climbing pole which Amḗlie managed with ease and Albert with determination. We also had a picnic on the beach and spent some time model making while it was actually raining!

 

 

Mary-Ann with art treasures

 

Climbing Wall

 

 

Playground

 

 

Pole dancing!

 

 

Picnic on Hove beach

 

 

 

 

The last we saw of Amelie!

 

 

Bird Feeder

 

Speaking of rain, we enjoyed 4.5mm on Wednesday night, the first this month and previously we recorded 3mm in 47 days.

Having had a new starter motor fitted last week we drove to Hove and back with no problems. On our return Kate went to the hairdressers on Wednesday morning but when I tried to go to Willingham later it would not start. Over Garage would not win many efficiency awards – they promised to come out in the afternoon but later rang to say they could not make it but would come Thursday morning. We were out walking but hoped it would be fixed when we returned only to find the drive empty. When I rang them, they said that the part was under guarantee so they needed to replace it from the supplier and this would not be possible until Monday. 6 days without a car is good for the cycling muscles but conveying panniers full of water to the allotment is quite hard work!

We had a new walk on Thursday starting at Lidgate south of Newmarket and taking in Ousden and Genesis Green. There were three times as many walking compared to the previous week as it was much cooler. It is an interesting area with plenty of tree lined shady lanes.

 

 

Near Lidgate

 

 

Horseshoe Horse

 

 

Autumn in August!

 

 

Lidgate

 

We had a badger visit to the Sweet Corn in our “fortified” garden this week, but not too much damage and the crops at the allotment and Elsom’s have performed very well.

 

 

Badger visit

 

David phoned last night to report that cousin John was out of hospital and he and Muriel were now in an old folks place in Kirby. John however is not really with it.

The local football season has begun with a stutter. Last Saturday the county FA called off all the games due to the heatwave, this week Over called off their game as the pitch is unfit due to cracks and hardness. Dave and I went to West Wratting.

 

love

 

Mike & Kate